A NORTH manufacturer has become one of the first to be involved in an initiative to take British businesses to South-East Asia.

Conference and exhibition furniture maker ABF Europe, based in Hunsingore, near Wetherby, North Yorkshire, is working with newly-created Asia Business HQ, based in Hong Kong, which helps businesses from every sector to get a foothold into China and the surrounding area.

ABF Europe is using Asia Business HG's services on Hong Kong Island to build up a network of contacts as far afield as Australia, with a view to eventually opening a branch in China.

Darren Buttle, managing director of ABF Europe, said: "We thought Hong Kong would be an ideal central base to expand our business, especially our kite table system, into South-East Asia and Australia."

Joanna Lavan, who set up Asia Business HG, said: "I am very happy that companies like ABF Europe are using our centre to launch themselves into the South-East Asian market and we hope that more companies will follow suit, meaning that there will be a real North-Eastern and Yorkshire business presence out there before long."